'Hero' Canadian ambassador wrestles protester in Ireland

Kevin Vickers, Canada's ambassador to Ireland and the official hailed for shooting dead a gunman who stormed the Canadian parliament in 2014, tackled a protester at a ceremony Thursday in Dublin.

Vickers, who was appointed to the diplomatic post following his role in ending the gun rampage in Ottawa, grappled with the demonstrator before police arrived, RTE television footage showed.

Vickers, 59, was attending an Irish state ceremony commemorating the 125 British soldiers who were killed in Ireland's 1916 Easter Rising against British rule.

As the protester walked out and began shouting, Vickers grabbed him by his jacket and bundled him out of the way before police officers moved in and arrested the man.

The demonstrator shouted "This is an insult" while being wrestled out of the way by Vickers.

The ceremony, held in Dublin's Grangegorman Military Cemetery, was attended by Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, British ambassador Dominick Chilcott and troops from both countries.

The Easter Rising against British rule paved the way for Ireland's independence and the ceremony was intended to recognise the losses of British army soldiers -- many of whom hailed from Ireland -- as part of the centenary commemorations.

"In the century since the events of 1916 we have learned, through painful experience, the importance of mutual respect for the different traditions and multiple narratives across these islands," said Flanagan.

Vickers was formerly the sergeant-at-arms in the Canadian House of Commons, where he carried the ceremonial golden mace and wore a bicorne hat and tail coat.

The former Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman was hailed as a hero for bringing the October 2014 attack on the Canadian parliament to an end.

The attacker had already shot a security guard in the leg, exchanged gunfire with federal police and ran down the main Hall of Honor towards the library.

Vickers reportedly emerged with a handgun, threw himself to the ground and shot the assailant three times.